Menu
In-Depth

The dealmakers

Some of the key players to watch in sports finance

Rob Tilliss


Founder, Inner Circle Sports
It was a banner year for Inner Circle, with advisory roles on the sales of the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils and Phoenix Coyotes in 2013. Inner Circle’s biggest deal since Tilliss started the firm in 2002 was advising Fenway Sports on the 2009 purchase of Liverpool Football Club. Tilliss formed Inner Circle after running JPMorgan Chase’s sports lending practice.




Photo by: Galatioto Sports Partners
Sal Galatioto

President, Galatioto Sports Partners
One of the more entertaining personalities in the sports finance world, Galatioto’s firm advised the Maloofs last year on the sale of the Sacramento Kings. GSP played a central role in the bankruptcy saga of the Texas Rangers, helping force the team to auction against MLB’s wishes.



John Moag
Photo by: Markswisher.com

Chairman & CEO, Moag & Co.
Moag was the chairman of the Maryland Stadium Commission in 1995 when the state struck the deal to lure the Browns from Cleveland. From that he launched his sports career, and over the years has advised on the sales of the Ravens and Dolphins, and more recently the San Diego Padres.



Photo by: Tipping Point Sports
Mitchell Ziets

CEO, Tipping Point Sports
Ziets is an expert in stadium lease negotiations, having worked with a variety of teams, including the San Diego Chargers. He advised the ill-fated Seattle group’s push to buy the Kings, and now is involved in efforts to bring the NHL to Seattle.



Steve Greenberg

Managing director, Allen & Co.
Greenberg has long since moved beyond being known as Hank Greenberg’s son. He is the go-to guy for MLB team sales and transactions, and has frequently been rumored as a candidate for commissioner of the sport. He is not limited to MLB, however, and now is advising the Milwaukee Bucks on a prospective sale of the club.



Vataha (left) and Caporale made their mark advising on team sales.
Photo by: Chris Churchill
Robert Caporale

Chairman, Game Plan
Randy Vataha
CEO, Game Plan
A two-man shop with offices out of their homes on the respective coasts, Game Plan features Caporale and Vataha, a former Patriots wide receiver. They have long made a mark advising on team sales, including last year’s Kings transaction, representing the buyer. Over the years they have advised on the sale of the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics, and once even advised Bain & Co. on a bid to buy the entire NHL.


SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2014/03/31/In-Depth/Dealmakers.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2014/03/31/In-Depth/Dealmakers.aspx

CLOSE